The introduction of Black Diamond® Best Red™ Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia x ‘Ebony Flame’ BLACK DIAMOND® Best Red™) marked a breakthrough in crape myrtle breeding programs. This trendsetting plant has turned the gardening world upside-down with its dramatic look, which gives it an incomparable presence in the landscape.

Sophisticated Dark Foliage from Spring through Autumn
Crape myrtles, which typically have green leaves, are the most beautiful summer-flowering trees and shrubs. But when the Black Diamond takes an extremely unconventional turn by sporting black leaves, nobody can believe it's a crape myrtle! The color of Black Diamond Crape Myrtle's foliage is a rich burgundy-black, which is not a brief seasonal coloration. The leaves retain their deep color all season long - from spring through fall!

Striking Scarlet Flowers that Won't Fade in the Fall
If you like red flowers, you’ll be impressed by these stunning blossoms. It earned the name "Best Red" because the color is so bright and clear. Individual crinkly flowers are small, but they are produced in large clusters, which are quite showy. Red is definitely an attention-grabbing color in the landscape, but just wait 'til you see these deep-red blooms against burgundy-black leaves. The color contrast is so vivid that it'll make everyone do a double-take!

Other types of crape myrtles bloom profusely in summer, but their colorful flowers end their seasonal show well in advance of autumn. Not so with Black Diamond Crape Myrtle. You'll enjoy what’s characterized as an "extended blooming season" from flowers that keep coming and coming – all the way through autumn.

Intentional Breeding Produces Superior Traits
The Black Diamond Crape Myrtle is bred from three different species of crape myrtles - no small feat in the world of crape myrtle breeding. In fact, one of Black Diamond's plant parents was the first crape myrtle cultivar successfully hybridized from three different species - Lagerstroemia indica, L. fauriei, and L. limii. The science behind the development of Black Diamond Best Red Crape Myrtle produced this extraordinary tree, but all you have to do is enjoy the results!

Exceptional Disease Resistance
Plant breeders had their work cut out for them as they set out to produce a dark-leaf crape myrtle that was resistant to powdery mildew. So they intentionally subjected plants to some of the environmentally stressful conditions that put disease pressure on crape myrtles, such as high humidity, cool spring nights, and summer drought. In other words, they tried to “make them sick.” And they didn’t test the plants in a sealed environment, such as a laboratory; they tested them where they were naturally growing outside … just as yours will grow. These field-tested Black Diamond Best Red Crape Myrtles passed the tests with flying colors, exhibiting an uncommon resistance to the diseases that plague other crape myrtles!

Many crape myrtles succumb to diseases that prosper in the same hot and humid climates that define much of this plant's perennial range in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 6 through 9. Powdery mildew and Cercospora leaf spot (fungal diseases) and leaf scorch (a bacterial disease) are common diseases of crape myrtle trees. Trees infected with these diseases have leaves that are discolored or disfigured, significantly detracting from their ornamental appeal. Powdery mildew leaves a white coating on leaf surfaces, which would be even more unsightly on a tree with black leaves, such as Black Diamond.

Same Alluring Appearance with Utility-Friendly Height
Some types of crape myrtles can grow to heights that exceed 30 feet, which could easily overwhelm many small landscapes. Black Diamond Crape Myrtle is an ideal size to feature in any yard, plus its shorter stature showcases its dramatic leaves and vivid flowers. It reaches only 10 to 12 feet at maturity, with an 8-foot width. This size also puts Black Diamond in the “utility-friendly” category, which means that you can plant it underneath power lines without worrying that it will eventually grow so tall that you have to keep it pruned.

Captivating Container Plant
If you really want to dial up the eye-candy appeal, feature Black Diamond Best Red Crape Myrtle in a striking container. Wow – you will not believe the impact this simple addition can make in your landscape design! Plant it as the potted centerpiece in a formal courtyard garden (pot it in a large urn planter on top of a pedestal); add this colorful touch to your front entrance (pot two Black Diamonds – one on each side of your front steps), or place potted Black Diamonds on your sunny patio.

Vibrant Red Flowers Attract Hummingbirds
Black Diamond’s red flowers are as irresistible to butterflies and hummingbirds as they will be to you! This flowering tree is a super addition to any pollinator garden. Hummingbirds are naturally drawn to the color red, which is why hummingbird feeders are made with red accents. But instead of merely hanging a feeder with red plastic flowers, plant Black Diamond Best Red Crape Myrtle – a living hummingbird feeder with real red flowers … and watch the little birds flock to it!

Blazing Blooms That Can Survive the Winter
If you’re a gardener who lives outside Black Diamond’s perennial range, you can still grow this amazing plant. Simply grow it in a container from spring through fall, and let it spend the winter in a protected location during the winter. What you’ll need to give it to ensure its long-term survival are conditions that simulate its natural winter growing environment in climates where it prospers outside year-round. Black Diamond needs a cool dormant period each winter so it can produce loads of flowers year after year; it’s not recommended as a houseplant. Wait until all the leaves drop in autumn, and then move the potted plant into an unheated area, such as a garage or basement where the temperature doesn’t climb over 50 degrees. Keep it very lightly watered – once every few weeks or so. As temperatures warm in spring, you’ll see new growth emerging on your Black Diamond. Move it back outdoors but protect it from late-spring frosts that can injure the new buds.

Easy Care for Low Maintenance
This low-maintenance gem of a plant has very few needs, such as:

• Sun. Lots of sun is essential for Black Diamond’s optimal health, profuse flowering habit, and dark foliage. Place it where it enjoys all-day sun; 8 hours is ideal. If Black Diamond receives less than 6 hours of sun each day, its lustrous black leaves may begin to turn shades of green. It needs the sun to keep the leaves dark.

• Water. Established plants are remarkably drought-tolerant, but newly transplanted trees need more attention. Make sure after it rains (or when you water with a garden hose) that the soil drains well. You don’t want your Black Diamond tree standing in a puddle of water. If you grow your plant in a container, make sure the pot has a drainage hole, and water it more often than you would in the ground, particularly during the hot summer months.

• Fertilizer. Apply a slow-release fertilizer in spring as the new growth is emerging. It’s always best to fertilize based on soil-test results. Your local Cooperative Extension Service will perform a soil test at a nominal fee, and they’ll advise you on recommended fertilizers and rates for your particular tree.

• Pruning/Shaping. You won’t have to prune Black Diamond Best Red Crape Myrtle trees to prompt them to produce flowers. If you want to shape your plant to keep it smaller as a shrub-form instead of simply allowing its natural growth as a small tree to take center stage, it’s best to prune it in February.

Elegant Cut Flowers
If you enjoy your cutting garden, think outside the box of typical flowers you cut to bring inside your home. Have you thought of planting a flowering tree to provide blossoms for a fabulous table centerpiece? Some flowering trees grow too tall for you to cut their blooms unless you stand on a ladder, which is an accident waiting to happen! But Black Diamond Best Red is easily within reach because of its compact size. Just picture an elegant vase filled with several stems of burgundy-black leaves and red flower clusters in a standalone bouquet or as a complement to other flowers. It will surely be the talk of your next dinner party or luncheon!

Customer Reviews

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07/17/17

More beautiful than I expected.

More beautiful than I expected. I ordered the 3-4 foot tree and they sent a 3 1/2 foot tree with beautiful black leaves and buds that are already opening after two days. There was only minimal breakage to some of the smaller branches during shipping but nothing noticeable. Very healthy tree!

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